LESSON ELEVEN - The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood

“The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and . . . the powers of heaven cannot be
controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness” (D&C 121:36).

PURPOSE
To increase understanding of the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood pursuant to one’s sacred responsibilities within an
eternal home with spouse and children.

Preparation
1. This lesson is designed to be approximately 20 minutes unless more time is available.
2. Seek the spirit in deciding which sections to emphasize. It is not critical that you cover all of the material provided.
3. Prayerfully study D&C 84:33-40 and Abraham 1:2, 2:9-11. Be prepared to use the following addresses:
• Boyd K. Packer, “The Power of the Priesthood,” Ensign, May 2010, 6-10.
• “Lesson 13: Women and the Priesthood,” The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part A, 91.
4. Consider the needs of the participants and prepare additional questions that promote discussion and connect the principles to
apartment and family life.
5. Be prepared to bear your testimony throughout the lesson at any time the spirit prompts.

Doctrine
• “[The priesthood] is . . . the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the
human family” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 139).
• The divine roles of men and women are essential to fulfilling the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.
• The priesthood is the power through which families are sealed together forever.

Discussion
SECTION ONE
Priesthood Influence on Families
Divide into gender groups and have each discuss the
following quotations and questions.
“The Priesthood does not have the strength that it should
have and will not have until the power of the priesthood is
firmly fixed in the families as it should be . . . .
“Every law and principle and power, every belief, every
ordinance and ordination, every covenant, every sermon
and every sacrament, every counsel and correction, the
sealings, the calls, the releases, the service—all these have
as their ultimate purpose the perfection of the individual
and the family . . .” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Power of the
Priesthood,” Ensign, May 2010, 6-10).
“The man holds the Priesthood, performs the priestly duties
of the Church, but his wife enjoys with him every other
privilege derived from the possession of the Priesthood.
This is made clear, as an example, in the Temple service of
the Church. The ordinances of the Temple are distinctly of
Priesthood character, yet women have access to all of them,
and the highest blessings of the Temple are conferred only
upon a man and his wife jointly” (Lesson 13, The Latter-day
Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part A, 91).
Sisters and the Priesthood
Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained the companionship
role of the priesthood and women: “In the true Patriarchal
Order man holds the priesthood and is the head of the
household, . . . but he cannot attain a fulness of joy here
or of eternal reward hereafter alone. Woman stands at his
side a joint-inheritor with him in the fulness of all things.
Exaltation and eternal increase is her lot as well as his
(D&C 131:1-4). Godhood is not for men only; it is for men
and women together” (D&C 132:19-20; Mormon Doctrine,
2nd ed. [1966], 844).
“It is crucial for everyone to understand what is expected of
the brethren. Unless we enlist the attention of the mothers
and daughters and sisters—who have influence on their
husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers—we cannot progress.
The priesthood will lose great power if the sisters are
neglected. Priesthood is the authority and the power which
God has granted to men on earth to act for Him. When
priesthood authority is exercised properly, priesthood
bearers do what He would do if He were present” (Boyd K.
Packer, “The Power of the Priesthood,” Ensign, May 2010,
6-10).

For Facilitators: Think-Pair-Share

Using a question, prompt, or observation, invite students to think about the questions. Then pair up and talk about their ideas
for a few minutes. Call on pairs to share their thoughts with the rest of the group.

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Men: Questions for discussion:
• How do women prepare themselves to honor the
priesthood of their husbands and fathers?
• What influence does a woman (a mother, a girlfriend, a
sister, an FHE sister, friend) have on the development
and righteous choices of a priesthood holder?
• In what ways do men and women share the
responsibilities and blessings of the priesthood?
Women: Questions for discussion:
• How do men prepare to become faithful priesthood holders?
• What can you do to facilitate a young man’s
development into a faithful priesthood holder?
• Why is it important for you to know about the roles and
administration of the priesthood?
• In what ways do you participate and receive the
blessings of the priesthood?
SECTION TWO
The Oath and Covenant of The Priesthood (D&C 84:33-40)
“There is an oath and covenant of the priesthood. The
covenant rests with man; the oath with God. The
Melchizedek Priesthood is received by covenant. A man’s
covenant with God is to:
“Be faithful and magnify his callings in the priesthood;
give heed to the words of eternal life; and live by every
word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. (see
D&C 83:33, 43-44)
“God, for his part, declares with an everlasting oath that
all who receive the priesthood and obey the covenants that
pertain to that priesthood shall receive ‘all that [the] Father
hath’ (see D&C 84:38).
“And this is according to the oath and covenant which
belongeth to the priesthood” (Boyd K. Packer, “What Every
Elder Should Know—and Every Sister As Well,” Liahona,
Nov. 1994, 7).
Questions for discussion:
• What is the oath and what is the covenant of the priesthood?
• What do you think it means in verse 33 when it speaks of
“magnifying their calling”?
• How can one become sanctified and what does that entail?
• What blessings can both men and women gain from
fulfilling the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood?
SECTION THREE
The New and Everlasting Covenant (D&C 131:2-3)
Spencer W. Kimball taught that “no one who rejects the
covenant of celestial marriage can reach exaltation in
the eternal kingdom of God” (Spencer W. Kimball, “The
Importance of Celestial Marriage,” Ensign, Oct. 1979, 5-6).
“We believe that when a man and a woman are united as
husband and wife, and they love each other, their hearts
and feelings are one, that that love is as enduring as eternity
itself . . . . God has restored the everlasting priesthood, by
Additional teaching resources are available under the Stake & Ward Leader Section at www.byui.edu/studentliving
Updated 9.10
which ties can be formed, consecrated and consummated,
which shall be as enduring as we ourselves are enduring . . .
husbands and wives will be united together, and they and
their children will dwell and associate together eternally
and this . . . will constitute one of the chiefest joys of heaven”
(George Q. Cannon, Journal of Discourses, 14:320-21).
Question for discussion:
• How does the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood
help us fulfill the responsiblities outlined in “The Family
Proclamation?”
Activity: Think-Pair-Share
Divide the class into pairs. After reviewing the previous
quotes on sisters and the priesthood, invite each participant
to think about the following question: “How does fulfilling
priesthood responsibilities relate to the New and Everlasting
Covenant and exaltation? After a minute of thought, invite
them to share with their partners. Give the groups two to
three minutes to write down as many ideas as they have on
the prompt. Invite each pair to share their top two ideas.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Boyd K. Packer, “What Every Elder Should Know—and
Every Sister as Well,” Ensign, February 1993, 7.
Doctrine & Covenants 132:28-33
Abraham 1:2
Bible Dictionary: Abrahamic Covenant
Application
A lesson is not complete until a challenge or invitation is
extended which inspires and motivates participants to
apply what they have learned. “It’s in the doing, not just
the thinking, that we accomplish our goals” (Thomas S.
Monson, “A Royal Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 2007, 59-61).
As a result of the lesson, each participant should feel an
increased desire to change an attitude or behavior and
become a stronger disciple of Jesus Christ. Include the
following steps as part of the application process:
1. Summarize what has been learned or ask a member of
the group to do so.
2. Invite participants to write goals specific to what
they have felt and learned. How will they apply the
principles to their personal lives and apartment life
(including roommate relationships)? How will they act
on what they have learned as a means of preparation
for marriage and family life? In short, what will they do
about what they have learned?
3. Follow-up with participants on goals they have set.
Regular and consistent follow-up will increase the
likelihood that participants actually execute their plan
of action.
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